Does Sarfaraz Ahmed merit a place in the team?

[RehanG]

Need to one more single digit score to have a complete Postal Code...

He has completed his postal code combination for Netherlands... we have four digits here.

 

[MMHS]

He is failing measurably in his primary task - WK.

 

[QalandarFan]

Average of 4.25 at a SR of 37 since the CT game against SL! Abysmal seems he can't even play spin these days anymore. Not just his batting but his keeping as been awful as well.

 

[paklvr_82]

Biased nepotistic Akmal fans trying to ridicule captain who won Pakistan their first multinational tournament in 23 years.
Sarfaraz is in a spot of bother and his performances are being affected but mostly for his decision to play Azam, Azhar, Hafeez and Malik in the team. He is doing fine as a captain.

 

[Lefthanded]

Sarfraz is fitness and batting ability is more associate cricketing nation than top flight cricket. Sooner or later, he won't be able to hold a place in the side with how he's performing.

 

[Pete Rose]

let me put it this way, if he wants to be deserving of a spot in the odi team, he needs to bat at 4.

 

[srh]

let me put it this way, if he wants to be deserving of a spot in the odi team, he needs to bat at 4.

I definitely dont want him in T20I squad.

But I am borderline on ODI squad:

• If he bats in top 4 then I will not drop him.
• if he does not bat in top 4 and his replacement would be Rizwan / Kami / Adnan then I will not drop him.
• if he does not bat in top 4 and his replacement would not be Rizwan / Kami / Adnan then I will drop him.

I definitely want him in Test squad.

 

[Usman Chadda]

The most hilarious part about Sarfraz's detractors is that most of them are Kamran Akmal fans. Kamran was a disaster as a wicket-keeper and while he has definitely played some match-winning knocks throughout his career, he will never amount to anything in international cricket ever. His fitness is terrible, he cannot field as an out-fielder to save his life and his batting becomes hit and miss against international class pace bowlers.

Sarfraz has accommodated himself thanks to Hafeez and Malik. He is a brilliant player at number 4 but he is constantly sacrificing himself for the seniors. I'm sure he himself knows he becomes a nothing player at number 6, either trying to hit out or trying to improvise too much when the team is 60/4.

 

[Pete Rose]

I definitely dont want him in T20I squad.

But I am borderline on ODI squad:

• If he bats in top 4 then I will not drop him.
• if he does not bat in top 4 and his replacement would be Rizwan / Kami / Adnan then I will not drop him.
• if he does not bat in top 4 and his replacement would not be Rizwan / Kami / Adnan then I will drop him.

I definitely want him in Test squad.

Agree that he probably needs to give up on t20.
As for odi, the problem for him and even previous odi captains is of (a) captain's batting position and (b) batting squad selection.

While Sarfaraz batting at 4 is right, even that will not be enough to change the results of the team, even if he is personally successful.
To succeed he needs to bat at 4 and also to remove similar players from the line up: hafeez, malik, azhar.

 

[Pete Rose]

er 4 but he is constantly sacrificing himself for the seniors. I'm sure he himself knows he becomes a nothing player at number 6, either trying to hit out or trying to improvise too much when the team is 60/4.

too many pakistani captains especially in odi's have followed this short term approach. playing known quantity garbage seniors (who will only lose more matches for pakistan) ahead of their spot and sacfricing/hiding in the lower order and making minimal impact.
net result:
your team lose games because these seniors are substandard
your own form disappears as you keep hiding lower and lower in the order
you lose influence as captain because your form and your team's form is rubbish

 

[Amjid Javed]

Should bat number 4 or even open. Being wasted down order as his games not suited to lower order role.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Drop Hafeez and Azhar and open with Babar. Harris bats at 3 and Sarfraz at 4. Anything below 4 and Sarfraz is a liability.

The most frustrating thing about his batting is that he has recently started to throw away his wickets by playing reckless shots. As the captain, he should take more responsibility and put a price on his wicket.

 

[The intelligent Supporter]

let me put it this way, if he wants to be deserving of a spot in the odi team, he needs to bat at 4.

How about playing as an opener to replace Azhar Ali? If I recall Sarfi played really well as an opener ( WC 2015)

 

[Pete Rose]

How about playing as an opener to replace Azhar Ali? If I recall Sarfi played really well as an opener ( WC 2015)

i dont think he has a game for opener. i would replace azhar with faheem (for now since we dont have a sahibzada farhan type) but it will all come for naughr if your next three batsmen are a nothingburger of babar, malik, and hafeez.

 

[waleed88]

More than Sarfraz, where is that brigade that said 'Sarfraz will induce an aggressive mindset in the side' we will play attacking cricket. Mickey Arthur will revolutionize our batting, that brigade is the same brigade that is calling for Sarfraz's head today...

 

[waleed88]

I mean what did you expect? That we will start having 'doodh ki nehrain' because of our victory in the Champions Trophy.

We lost 4-1 to Australia that very same year...

 

[Pete Rose]

I mean what did you expect? That we will start having 'doodh ki nehrain' because of our victory in the Champions Trophy.

We lost 4-1 to Australia that very same year...

we'll win one...hafeez and malik will score 30's to complete a 240 type chase.

 

[Hasan123]

He doesn't make the team on keeping and batting. It's because of his captaincy he's in the team.

 

[MMHS]

Yes he does..


His average in odis is the highest by any WK in Pakistan

Who will replace him?
Kakmal?Dont think so...he is useless unless you open with him and even in opening he averages 31 which is unacceptable

Rizwan?
We all saw how he played against Australia in 2017.

So please keep your foolish suggestions aside

You are factually incorrect, unless you put a qualifier - "with at least 38 ODI".

His stats are built in 300+ era - had he played in Yousuf or Moin's time, with his batting "skills" against pace & bounce, he would have competed with Wasim Bari's stats.

That's with bat; Bari should be 70+ now, so can't tell about keeping these days - may be Sarfraz is better now.

 

[MMHS]

I didn't vote, because it's unfair to Sarfraz - good guy didn't make a 30+, over-weight & unfit WK Captain for 3 formats - that's 2 years before next WC. But, would love to read from those 14 (so far) voters ............

 

[DRsohail]

I didn't vote, because it's unfair to Sarfraz - good guy didn't make a 30+, over-weight & unfit WK Captain for 3 formats - that's 2 years before next WC. But, would love to read from those 14 (so far) voters ............

i voted against his inclusion n team and rightly so..this wicket keeping job can be done by anyone back home and captaincy? i think we have 8 or 9 players which can do it in the current line u if u exclude azhar and malik

 

[Syed1]

Killed his own career by:

Gaining a bucket of weight in the off season

Relying on garbage seniors like Azhar, Hafeez and Malik

Pushing himself down the order when all of his success with the bat have come in batting positions 4 or higher



He needs to rectify these issues post-haste otherwise he might be on his way out.

 

[Noman]

Killed his own career by:

Gaining a bucket of weight in the off season

Relying on garbage seniors like Azhar, Hafeez and Malik

Pushing himself down the order when all of his success with the bat have come in batting positions 4 or higher



He needs to rectify these issues post-haste otherwise he might be on his way out.

How in the World Can Pakistani cricketer not Take eating habit serious. These cricketer are getting around 10 crorer a year. What the hell is wrong with the brain. Disgracefull stuff

 

[CadPakFan]

Wait till the end of the series then you can judge him.

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

You are factually incorrect, unless you put a qualifier - "with at least 38 ODI".

His stats are built in 300+ era - had he played in Yousuf or Moin's time, with his batting "skills" against pace & bounce, he would have competed with Wasim Bari's stats.

That's with bat; Bari should be 70+ now, so can't tell about keeping these days - may be Sarfraz is better now.

Even in this era most asian WK cannot compete with Sarfaraz.

Your best WK Mushi is a shadow of what Sarfaraz is.

 

[MenInG]

Another test for Sarfaraz coming up!

 

[Markhor]

Looks miles away from the batsman who scored a hundred at Lord's and a beautiful 90 in a chase of 300 in Cardiff vs England a couple of years ago.

Needs to step up in this series.

 

[Theo_14]

Nope.

- Unfit
- Out of form with bad/glove
- Toxic; shouting at players.
- Tactically unaware
- Management's puppet; no insight on domestic players.

Had the chance to step up as the captain and send himself as an opener; has scored a 100 before in that position but no he bottled the chance. Weak player.

 

[Rayyman]

Didn't post in this thread because I believe in our captain. He is a fighter and good player.

 

[Syed1]

Shut up call by skip

 

[srh]

good inning today only batsman in top 7 to play at 100+ strike rate; imagine how much better he can be if he plays in top 4 [MENTION=57576]MRSN[/MENTION] [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]

 

[MMHS]

good inning today only batsman in top 7 to play at 100+ strike rate; imagine how much better he can be if he plays in top 4 [MENTION=57576]MRSN[/MENTION] [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]

May be, but he needs to keep well also - his keeping has been too poor.

 

[srh]

May be, but he needs to keep well also - his keeping has been too poor.

what do you think about moving Babar up to open with Fakhar and Haris at #3 and Sarfraz at #4?

 

[waleed88]

All tubby bashers please report here for humble pie

 

[MRSN]

good inning today only batsman in top 7 to play at 100+ strike rate; imagine how much better he can be if he plays in top 4 [MENTION=57576]MRSN[/MENTION] [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]

Even Afridi's bat used to talk after so many games. It's all about consistency, challenging knocks thats missing.

 

[Hasan123]

Did well. Needs to keep it up.

 

[MMHS]

what do you think about moving Babar up to open with Fakhar and Haris at #3 and Sarfraz at #4?

Position doesn’t matter much - it’s batting capability. For the innings that got his fan boys horny yesterday - he played one such in a year AND that’s from No. 7!!!!!! His innings yesterday was just about a face saving one - something we usded to celebrate 15 years back - a 50 from Bashar has availed us to play out 50 overs......


Again you are measuring stats on a standard scale - ODI game has changed, check what Kiwi No. 7 did yesterday and what SAF/IND No. 4 did in other side of the small pond. Batting at No. 4 isn’t a matter of joke - Munros & G’hommes & Santners won’t be bowling there with 4/5 men on line - no. 4 will be smelling lots of leather to start with.

This is ridiculous to think that suddenly his stakes has gone high enough to be slotted at 4, because first time in a year guy had hit a 60 at run a ball on a 60 metre ground, in a dead rubber where his team ended at least 35 short of par. Posters including me criticize MoHa lot - but any given day I’ll pick him ahead of Sarfraz for No. 4; which should be indicative enough. What his past stats are at 4/5 hardly matters now, because I am watching what he is batting, so you & others are. By that note, you can also say that there is a Test triple Centurian failing to make Indian squad ..... it’s so good

He is Captain, so has to be there - if you ask me, rather than focusing on batting, I would say that squeeze out 10-12kg (God knows) fat out of him and make him keep well (and make the mouth zip a little tighter) - after that if he bats as genuine No. 9, still he’ll serve the purpose much better.

Come on man (or lady, don’t know) - look at other # 4s around - AB, Smith, Kohli, Root, Tylor, .... Mushi represents minnows, so you can ignore his recent stats, but PAK’s esteem should be higher than this.

 

[reversehook]

more i see him bat/keep, more i hope we get someone like rizwan or a new kid on the block who could bat... sarfraz will not win us LOI with the bat, and is just an average unfit keeper...

 

[babajee]

Let him bat at his rightful position of #4 and you will see.

 

[srh]

more i see him bat/keep, more i hope we get someone like rizwan or a new kid on the block who could bat... sarfraz will not win us LOI with the bat, and is just an average unfit keeper...

he has to improve his fitness and running between the wickets; today he was so slow in running between wickets and was regularly turning 2s into 1s

 

[reversehook]

Let him bat at his rightful position of #4 and you will see.

bhai jaan team ka kuptaan mein nahin hoon, balkay woh khud hai, no one is stopping him to bat from #1 to #11... and no matter where he bats, he isnt good enough, he is lucky to be our captain with his current form...

 

[Ali Bohra]

He wont make Playing XI of most Top team.. just because of his anger issue.. unfitness.. and of course unconsistant batting performane..

PCB is sticking with him just because of 1 reason

1. They dont have any option or capable candidate for Captaincy.

Yes under him Pak won icc event, but lets ask some question.
1.Wether this team performing consistantly.
2. Is he building a team for near future let say 5 - 10 year..

Just like Steve Waugh,ponting, Greame Smith, Ganguly , dhoni did for thier countries. I think NO
ANSWER THIS FOR ME..

 

[RickyG]

He should be replaced by Umar Akmal in all formats. If not then Kamran Akmal should keep in all formats.

Mohammad Amir or Salman Butt should captain in all formats.

The reason is quite simple. Sarfraz hasn't done enough to warrant this much hate and criticism so let's replace him with individuals that are worthy of the abuse he is dealt out by fans because he is the captain/keeper.

 

[TeamPak95]

Aside from his fitness, which is pretty below par to say the least, all he needs to do is be more selfish in regards to his batting position. Meaning, bat higher. That's pretty much it. Enough with having the messiahs of experience Malik and Hafeez bat ahead of him. Sarfaraz, if batting around 4-5, can easily play a run-a-ball innings as opposed to him being hit-or-miss in slog overs.

 

[Hasan123]

Let him bat at his rightful position of #4 and you will see.

Why would you do that? Hussain Talat and Harris Sohail are better fits for number 4. Sarfraz batting isn't anything special in LO.

 

[babajee]

Why would you do that? Hussain Talat and Harris Sohail are better fits for number 4. Sarfraz batting isn't anything special in LO.

Fakhar
Haris
Babar
Sarfaraz
Talat

Tell me a better top 5 then we can talk.

 

[Hasan123]

Fakhar
Haris
Babar
Sarfaraz
Talat

Tell me a better top 5 then we can talk.

Fakhar
Another opener (Not sure yet)
Babar
Harris
Talat
Sarfraz
Fahim
Shadab

 

[rajulakhpati]

Fakhar
Another opener (Not sure yet)
Babar
Harris
Talat
Sarfraz
Fahim
Shadab

Imam to be the other opener (give him a decent run) and shadab at #5 moving Sarfraz to #6 or preferably #7 if FA gets going.

 

[babajee]

Fakhar
Another opener (Not sure yet)
Babar
Harris
Talat
Sarfraz
Fahim
Shadab

If you aren’t sure about the other opener yet then your lineup isn’t going to happen.

 

[reversehook]

There is absolutely zero flare to him...

 

[Hasan123]

If you aren’t sure about the other opener yet then your lineup isn’t going to happen.

Yes it can because Inzi could select that line up and select an opener not in the reckoning. Umar Amin is one opition for me but not sure about 2 lefties.

 

[Hasan123]

Imam to be the other opener (give him a decent run) and shadab at #5 moving Sarfraz to #6 or preferably #7 if FA gets going.

Imam isn't a ODI player.

 

[babajee]

Yes it can because Inzi could select that line up and select an opener not in the reckoning. Umar Amin is one opition for me but not sure about 2 lefties.

Nope.

Atm there is no better ODI opener to partner Fakhar in Pakistan than Haris Sohail.

Umar Amin is a walking wicket. No one else has been given a chance in PSL.

 

[Rayyman]

Fakhar
Haris
Babar
Sarfaraz
Talat

Tell me a better top 5 then we can talk.

Fakhar
Another opener (Not sure yet)
Babar
Harris
Talat
Sarfraz
Fahim
Shadab

Fakhar
Haris
Babar
Sarfraz*+
Talat
Imad
Shadab
Faheem
Hasan
Amir
JK/RR/UKS

 

[Hasan123]

Nope.

Atm there is no better ODI opener to partner Fakhar in Pakistan than Haris Sohail.

Umar Amin is a walking wicket. No one else has been given a chance in PSL.

Harris Sohail is a middle order player. Why change his role at the age of 30?

 

[babajee]

Harris Sohail is a middle order player. Why change his role at the age of 30?

Because:

1) Best player in the team of pace, swing, seam etc.
2) Crisp boundary hitter against pacers, not so much against spinners.
3) Allows us to get the best out of Sarfaraz playing at #4 and Talat at #5.
4) Opening is the easiest position in ODIs these days according to [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

 

[rajulakhpati]

Imam isn't a ODI player.

You have come to this decision after 4 ODIs worth of evidence, one of which he scored a 100 in? Even though it was against SL, that was on debut. That's a bit harsh imo. This team also needs someone in the top order that can hold things together, not have us in 30/4 situations so often, and still score at a reasonable pace, unlike Azhar. They picked him, he scored a 100, and he hasn't gotten a proper extended run yet. Even guys like AB took a while to get going. I do think he didn't warrant a selection originally, based on his domestic record, but now that he has scored, at least give him a proper run to see if he's worth it, rather than waste another player like they do.

 

[Hasan123]

You have come to this decision after 4 ODIs worth of evidence, one of which he scored a 100 in? Even though it was against SL, that was on debut. That's a bit harsh imo. This team also needs someone in the top order that can hold things together, not have us in 30/4 situations so often, and still score at a reasonable pace, unlike Azhar. They picked him, he scored a 100, and he hasn't gotten a proper extended run yet. Even guys like AB took a while to get going. I do think he didn't warrant a selection originally, based on his domestic record, but now that he has scored, at least give him a proper run to see if he's worth it, rather than waste another player like they do.

I just don't think he has the shot range for LO cricket. He's much better suited for test cricket. Would rather have a more dynamic opener .

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Not followed the PSL, Is he still fat and poor with the bat in PSL?

 

[Hasan123]

Because:

1) Best player in the team of pace, swing, seam etc.
2) Crisp boundary hitter against pacers, not so much against spinners.
3) Allows us to get the best out of Sarfaraz playing at #4 and Talat at #5.
4) Opening is the easiest position in ODIs these days according to [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

Most ODI pitches are flat ,I don't understand why people are so worried about seam and swing in ODIs. Also Harris isn't bad against spin.

If Inzi is going to select Azhar or shehzad, I would take Harris as an opener .

 

[Rayyman]

Most ODI pitches are flat ,I don't understand why people are so worried about seam and swing in ODIs. Also Harris isn't bad against spin.

If Inzi is going to select Azhar or shehzad, I would take Harris as an opener .

Haris was actually very poor against spin in the last series vs Santner and Sodhi. Was like 20(25) before they came on and ended up getting out 55(80). Struggled to rotate the strike, but looked very good in powerplay.

 

[babajee]

Haris was actually very poor against spin in the last series vs Santner and Sodhi. Was like 20(25) before they came on and ended up getting out 55(80). Struggled to rotate the strike, but looked very good in powerplay.

He’s not a bad player of spin - just gets tied up.